News

Current and past Student Ambassadors had a chance to meet and mingle with one another and faculty at the Simon Benson House on Thursday September 6, 2012.

Dean of Student Life, Michele Toppe gave praise to the program’s success throughout the years in an emotional speech, while J.R Tarabocchia, the current director of the Student Ambassador Program happily described his experience of working with a diverse group of students on a day to day basis. Executive Director of Alumni Engagement, Tom Bull called on Alumni to support the numerous student programs on campus and build an Alumni community at Portland State.

Faculty and staff that came to the event include Nicholas Running, the Learning Center Office Manager and new Commencement Director; Assistant Director of Diversity and Multicultural Student Services Melanie R Dixon; and Graduate Studies Advisor, Karen Popp.

Cindy Reyes, a current Student Ambassador stated, “I really liked meeting all the Alumni and others from Government Relations.” The current Ambassadors were also able to meet the co-founder and student co-coordinator for PSU Student Ambassador Program, Sahra Vanderkin Rahimtoola. Rahimtoola graduated from PSU in 1997 with a degree in Biology and now works at Kaiser Medical Center.

The program has been serving the PSU community since 1995, giving PSU students the ability to unite with Alumni, dignitaries and perspective students through school tours and special PSU engagements. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for new and returning Student Ambassadors to meet the PSU community they will be working with throughout the year.